Chapter 181 Free Hunting

The North Sea is a vast sea between the United Kingdom and the European continent. It is also the main channel for Germany to enter and exit the Atlantic Ocean. Therefore, in order to curb the entry and exit of the German navy into and out of the Atlantic Ocean, the British deliberately established a large naval base in Scapa Flow in the Onik Islands. Once the situation is tense, the main force of the Royal Navy will be stationed here. This makes it impossible for the German Navy to enter the Atlantic Ocean.

It can be said that the British navy stationed in Scapa Flow is like a chain that tightly strangles Germany's neck. Losing overseas trade is undoubtedly a fatal blow to resource-poor Germany. Even before the war broke out, under Qin Tian's leadership, Germany had stored a large amount of war supplies. However, as the war continues, the consumption will become greater and greater. If this continues, sooner or later, those stored resources will be consumed.

Therefore, for Germany, once the war enters a war of attrition, their chances of winning will be very small. In the end, it is very likely that they will be dragged to death by the British. After all, Britain had vast colonies to exploit, while Germany did not.

Germany also knew this, so it spared no effort to develop its navy in an attempt to defeat the British Royal Navy, thereby changing this unfavorable situation. It's just that it is not that simple to defeat the Royal Navy that has dominated the world's oceans for hundreds of years.

The reason why Qin Tian built a powerful battlecruiser force and submarine force for the German Navy was to fight tit for tat with the British Navy. Don't the British want to blockade Germany? Similarly, the German Navy can also use battlecruisers and submarines to block Britain. For a country where the vast majority of industrial raw materials and industrial products need to be transported by sea, even food cannot be self-sufficient and needs to be shipped back to the country from overseas, once the sea transportation line is cut off, how serious the consequences will be It is also conceivable. Even, the losses caused will be greater than those caused by Germany being blocked.

Qin Tian believed that the German navy would surely be able to complete the blockade of Britain with its powerful battlecruiser formation and submarine force. Once the sea transportation line is cut off, Britain's war potential will be greatly reduced, and the threat to Germany will be further reduced, which will help Germany win this battle.

In August, the North Sea is very windy and rough. In other words, the temper of the Atlantic Ocean is already very irritable, not as calm as the Pacific Ocean.

A huge warship is sailing in the northwest of the North Sea. The hull of this battleship is as big as a hill, floating on the sea, giving people a great shock.

On the bridge, a middle-aged general in his fifties was looking into the distance with a telescope. This person is none other than Vice Admiral of the German Navy, Maximilian Spee. He was originally the commander of the Pacific Squadron of the German Navy. However, after Germany decided to abandon Blue Island, the Pacific Squadron was withdrawn to the German mainland and incorporated into the High Seas Fleet. All the Germans in Blue Island have also returned home. And Blue Island was also handed over to the Eastern Empire.

Of course, this approach of the Germans certainly caused Germany to lose a colony. However, it made the only great power in the East very upset. They were still waiting anxiously for the outbreak of war, and then took the opportunity to declare war on Germany and snatch the Blue Island. But now, Germany has directly given up on Blue Island, which completely defeats their wishful thinking! The war is about to begin, are they going to continue to fight, or what? The Japanese government is now in chaos.

"General, General Hipper is calling. The 1st battlecruiser formation has entered the Atlantic Ocean. They will turn around and head south." A staff officer reported.

"Call back to General Hipper, the 2nd battlecruiser formation will operate in the waters off the west of Scotland as planned," Lieutenant General Spee said.

For Lieutenant General Spei, it is a pity to withdraw from the Pacific Ocean. However, being able to join the duel with the British Navy also made him extremely excited.

At this time, a communications officer came in with a telegram: "Report to the general, the Empire has declared war on Belgium. Your Excellency Commander, let us prepare for battle. It is expected that the British will declare war on us soon."

"Very good, keep in touch with the country. Once we start a war with the British, let me know immediately!" Lieutenant General Spee said.

"Yes, General."

These German officers all knew that once the war started, it meant that they could launch an attack.

Although the target of the attack is the British merchant ships and transport ships, it is not as exciting as attacking their warships. But it doesn't matter what they do as long as it helps Germany win the war.

In the early morning of August 4, under the cover of fog, the German Navy's 2nd battlecruiser formation led by Lieutenant General Spee also entered the Atlantic Ocean.

Perhaps it was because the two countries had not officially started war, and the British navy's blockade was not tight, which allowed the German navy's warships to enter the Atlantic smoothly. Of course, it is estimated that the British Navy did not expect that the German Navy would be so courageous, dare to take the initiative to attack!

That afternoon, both Lieutenant General Spee and Lieutenant General Hipper received domestic telegrams that Britain and Germany had declared war on each other. This also means that their hunting operations can begin.

"Send a telegram to the 'Goben' and 'Sedlitz' to let them hunt freely! Once you encounter a British warship, contact us immediately. In addition, the light cruisers and destroyers are also dispersed. " Lieutenant General Spee ordered.

In the second battlecruiser formation, in addition to the three "Moltke-class" battlecruisers, there are three light cruisers and three destroyers. These light cruisers and destroyers act as the eyes of the formation and provide intelligence for the formation. Of course, once a British merchant ship is spotted, these light cruisers and destroyers can also launch an attack.

The three "Moltke-class" battlecruisers were scattered, each separated by tens of kilometers, sailing southwest. On the periphery are light cruisers and destroyers.

In the absence of radar, everything can only be found by human eyes.

Like Lieutenant General Spee, Lieutenant General Hipper's formation of three "Blücher-class" battlecruisers also began to search for traces of British Navy merchant ships and transport ships in the vast sea.

As for the submarine force, because of their slow speed, they are still on their way. Therefore, this free hunting operation against British merchant ships and transport ships will first start with the battlecruisers of the German Navy.